Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

270 Edith heard Monsey speak, from the shad- ows that clung to the stone shelters of the courtyard. “A truce, Donovan,” he called. -“ Will you hold your fire while we talk terms?”’ The man in the tower considered. “Tf your men stay where they are— yes,” he announced, keeping well behind the stone breastwork. ‘“ No trickery, mind you!” “Granted.” The girl heard Monsey laugh. He spoke like one who held the situation well in hand. ‘“‘ May I compli- ment you on the trick you played us— warning off your Sayak friends? It was too bad, though, to give your secret away. You will do well ‘to accept my terms.” ‘““T was going to propose some of my own.” ““No use, Mr. Dono-van Khan.” “Tm afraid not. The Sayaks have marked you for. their own,’’ Donovan shift- ed guilefully into Turki for the benefit of such of Monsey’s men as might be within hearing. Edith caught an oath from the courtyard below. Then the Russian responded some- thing she could not understand. She leaned back against the timbers, waiting. Into her eyes crept the glimmer of count- less stars. The heavens were afire, and in the clear mountain air the jeweled radiance of the sky seemed very close to the wearied girl, The murmur of the men’s voices went THE on, and her eyes closed through sheer drowsiness. She had not slept for nearly forty-eight hours. It was Donovan’s re- turn that roused her from her stupor. He spoke grimly. ‘““T must tell you this, Edith. iacey? S men are piling timbers and firewood under the entrance hole of the tower—throwing the stuff in from the door. He says that che will burn us out if we don’t surrender.” “Oh.” Edith sat up with sudden dread. He wouldn’t do that!” Donovan did not answer at once. ‘“ He would, dear, to save his own skin. I won- der if it’s come to that? Somehow, I don’t think so. Of course, if I were alone here he’d jolly well start a bonfire at once.” “Then we won’t surrender not a bit. ARGOSY. And [ll stay right here, so there will be no bonfire, as you say,” she responded promptly. She knew Monsey better than to ask—although she wanted to—whether Donovan could be released, unhurt, if she gave herself up. She dreaded parting with Donovan, even for a moment. “You must think of vere a little,” é he protested. “Tam. And I don’t want ait to talk to him any more.” This ended the cpnieroree. Donovan reflected that the danger of fire was the one that must have occurred to Aravang. It was a danger, because he and Aravang could not prevent the piling up of wood. A large blaze, started under the entrance to the tower, would soon catch in the ruins of the staircase, and the tower itself would serve as a chimney for the graft. Never- theless, he fancied that this was Monsey’s last card. With Donovan’s arm around her once more, the girl subsided into the drowsiness she was powerless to fight. She tried vain- ly to keep her eyes open. | In this state of half wakefulness, the whole aspect of her plight lost its reality, What was the tower, the kurgan, Monsey, but a bad dream, like the one in Srinagar? Only Donovan was real. She rested her cheek against his arm. Dull sounds from the regions below failed to disturb her as they did the man. He did not relish hearing an incendiary pyre prepared. But he was powerless to do anything save watch from the tower top. His arm ‘ tightened about the woman. She was his. Nothing must take her away from him now. = Presently he shook her gently into con- sciousness. “ Listen,” he said quietly. A sofmd from the plateau had reached his keen ears. He could not identify it. Edith hearkened. ° ‘Why, it’s camels,” she said at once. “I ought to know their coughing by now. But what in the world are a doing around here?” ““T fancy youw’re right.” stepped to the parapet. He rose and Something was cComicloooks C©